Blackburn College Athletics Celebrates National Girls & Women in Sports Day

CARLINVILLE, IL — Blackburn College Athletics proudly celebrated National Girls & Women in Sports Day, honoring the past, acknowledging the present, and looking toward the future of women in athletics.

The event featured a powerful keynote address from Justine Siegel, a trailblazer widely recognized for breaking barriers in the traditionally male-dominated world of baseball. In 2009, Siegel made history as the first woman to coach a professional men's baseball team when she joined the Brockton Rox of the independent Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball. She continued to pave the way in 2011, becoming the first woman to throw batting practice for a Major League Baseball team while working with the Cleveland Indians during spring training.

Siegel shared her journey of perseverance, leadership, and advocacy, encouraging student-athletes to embrace their voices and continue pushing boundaries both in sports and beyond.

In addition to the keynote address, Blackburn student-athletes Mailee Schoen, a softball player, and Marissa Perez, a volleyball player, took the stage to share their own stories of resilience, growth, and determination. Mailee and Marissa reflected on what it means to be a female athlete, highlighting the challenges they have overcome and the strength they draw from their experiences that led them to the collegiate level.

National Girls & Women in Sports Day serves as a reminder of the progress made in women's athletics while emphasizing the continued importance of equity, opportunity, and representation. Blackburn Athletics remains committed to supporting and celebrating female athletes as they lead the way for future generations.